Isaac Blanford, a senior forward from Waverly, Ohio, had three goals in the Patriots’ win at Benedictine University.

The men’s soccer team at St. Catharine College sandwiched two victories last week around a loss. The 2-1 week left Tim Wolz’s team with an overall slate of 2-3.

In a match played throughout a driving rainstorm Sunday (Sept. 2), the Patriots topped the Blue Devils from Lawrence Tech 4-3 in two overtimes. The deciding goal came in the first minute of the second overtime on a penalty kick by Patriot sophomore Ashley Woods. Due to the inclement weather the match was played on the artificial turf at Nelson County High School in Bardstown.

Woods’ goal was a result of a foul called on the Blue Devils as the second extra period began. It ended a see-saw affair that twice had St. Catharine leading by two goals against the visitors from Michigan whose record went to 1-2.

The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the tenth minute on a goal from 15 yards out by Sawyer Abshire. That lead stood up until halftime but six minutes into the second half Sam Kpoh’s goal on a rebound off the Blue Devils’ goalkeeper made the score 2-0.

Lawrence Tech made the score 2-1 in the 57th minute but another Abshire goal, off an excellent assist from Woods, gave the Patriots a 3-1 cushion. But the Blue Devils answered with two goals, the second one with seven minutes to play in regulation, to tie the game.
Neither team mounted a real threat in the first extra period and Woods’ penalty kick easily beat the goalkeeper as he drilled in low to the left side of the net for the game winner.

The Patriots outshot the Blue Devils 22-10 overall. Twelve of St. Catharine’s shots were on goal while Lawrence Tech had five on frame. Patriot goal keeper C.J. Powell had two saves, both in the first half.

The Patriots absorbed a tough loss Thursday at Oakland City when the Oaks (2-1) overcame a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3. St. Catharine took a 3-0 lead in the first 18 minutes of the game. Woods opened the scoring when he found the net on an assist from Abshire. Abshire had an unassisted goal following an Oaks’ turnover and Marvin Wesselburg made the score 3-0 when he scored on a rebound.

Oakland City made the score 3-1 before halftime and outscored the Patriots 3-0 in the second half to complete the comeback. Oakland City fired 25 shots, 13 on goal, while the Patriots had five total shots, four of them on frame. Powell had nine saves for the Patriots.

Thursday against Benedictine the Patriots again took an early lead and saw the opponent rally, but this time the Patriots had the final answer in winning 5-1.

For the first time in the three year tenure of head coach Tim Wolz, a Patriot player recorded a hat trick. That came from senior forward Isaac Blanford, who scored the final three goals of the game, two off assists from woods another from Ben Nally.

Woods had scored the Patriots’ first half goal on an assist from Raymond Mkandama and, after Benedictine (0-3) tied the score, the Patriots took the lead for good 11 minutes into the second half. That go-ahead goal was the first career score by Thomas Paris, a senior defender.
Powell had another strong effort for the Patriots as the junior goalkeeper allowed one goal and had 10 saves.

St. Catharine took on visiting Asbury University yesterday. They are at home again Saturday against Berea College starting at 5 p.m.